FRANKFURT (MktNews) - The net foreign currency reserve position of the Eurosystem -- the 12 national central banks of the eurozone plus the European Central Bank -- rose E0.1 billion to E240.6 billion in the latest week, the ECB said Tuesday in its consolidated financial statement. The stock of gold fell E31 million from last week to E131.034 billion, following the sale of three tonnes by one national central bank.
The ECB said that holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities of eurozone residents denominated in euros remained virtually unchanged at E33.2 billion. Banknotes in circulation rose by E4.3 billion to E355.7 billion. Liabilities to general government decreased by E3 billion to E53.6 billion. The ECB also said its net lending to credit institutions rose by E2.1 billion in the latest period to E219.7 billion. On Dec. 11, a main refinancing operation of E62 billion matured, while a new one of E65 billion was settled. Recourse to the ECB's marginal lending facility was virtually nil compared with E0.9 billion in the preceding week, while recourse to the deposit facility was E0.1 billion, approximately the same as the preceding week.
As a result of all transactions, the current account position of credit institutions with the Eurosystem increased by E2.9 billion to E129.9 billion in the latest week, the ECB said. //www.marketnews.com